Nigerian prison officials announced that Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan is ‘very ill’, which has prevented him from attending his court hearing once again.
This raised significant concerns that were previously highlighted by his wife nearly two months prior, indicating that Gambaryan’s health has noticeably worsened since his detention in April.
Trial for Binance Executive Rescheduled to October 25
The contentious trial of Binance executive Gambaryan has been postponed yet again as he was unable to appear in court due to his health issues.
The trial was initially set for October 18. As a U.S. citizen, Gambaryan could not participate because of his illness. Consequently, Judge Emeka Nwite adjourned the proceedings to allow him the opportunity for medical care.
Nwite announced that the trial would reconvene on October 25, granting Gambaryan sufficient time for treatment.
Nigerian Court Adjourns Trial Of Detained Binance Executive, Gambaryan, Declared As ‘Very Sick’ By Prison Authorities pic.twitter.com/uemQTOncdx
— Aneke Tv (@AnekeTv) October 18, 2024
The federal judge also directed the Nigerian correctional authorities to transfer Gambaryan to a hospital for treatment for up to two weeks, under strict security oversight during his medical care.
Gambaryan has been under Nigerian custody since February and faces allegations related to a $35-million money laundering case.
7/7 Jailed Binance Exec’s Nigeria Trial Postponed After He Fails to Come to Court ― ‘He’s Very Sick’https://t.co/LiwQNPMBtB
UAE – DL News
Over the last several months in Nigeria, Tigran Gambaryan has fought off the effects of malaria, endured the pain of a bad back, & shuffled… pic.twitter.com/Iq7hhdSoHT— Hostage Aid Worldwide (@HostageAid) October 18, 2024
Worsening Health of Binance Executive
In August, Yuki, Gambaryan’s wife, alerted the court that her husband’s health had significantly worsened since his detention in April.
She emphasized that her husband’s well-being has substantially declined while incarcerated, warning that his deteriorating condition could lead to irreversible damage, impacting his mobility.
As of today, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies was $2.28 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
His wife has appealed for the temporary release of her husband to prevent any further deterioration of his health.
Denial of Bail Request
Previously, Gambaryan requested permission from the Nigerian federal court to post bail for the purpose of undergoing surgery outside of prison. However, the bail request was denied for the second time.
The federal court stated that there was no evidence that the Nigerian Correctional Service was incapable of managing Gambaryan’s medical needs.
Gambaryan’s wife expressed her disbelief regarding the court’s ruling, asserting that it is unjust to deny her husband the necessary medical care.
A spokesperson from Binance also voiced their disappointment with the court’s decision, highlighting that Gambaryan has been unlawfully detained by Nigerian authorities for over 220 days.
Through social media, Binance representatives have called for Gambaryan’s immediate release, emphasizing his deteriorating health.
Binance CEO Richard Teng even accused the Nigerian authorities of pressuring the crypto exchange into complying with a “secret” agreement to resolve the ongoing legal matters against them — a claim that Nigerian officials have denied, labeling it a distraction tactic used by Binance.
Featured image from Harvard Gazette, chart from TradingView
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